Worcester Arts Council
The Worcester Arts Council (formerly the Worcester Cultural Commission) is a municipal body consisting of nine members appointed by the City Manager. The Council is charged with promoting the cultural affairs of the City of Worcester; conducting studies and research and publishing reports of cultural activities; advising municipal agencies on cultural matters; and allocating funds received by the Council for cultural projects and programs.
The mission of the Worcester Arts Council is to promote excellence, access, education and diversity in the arts, humanities and interpretative sciences to improve the quality of life for Worcester residents which contributes to the economic vitality of our City.
The Council accepts grant applications on an annual basis between mid-August and October 15th, with allocations made before the end of the calendar year. Grants are issued to support arts, humanities and interpretive sciences; visual artists, performing artists, science educators, historians and other humanists; as well as community, business and civic groups, social service organizations, schools, neighborhood centers, and youth, senior and family associations. For 2011, the Worcester Arts Council granted just over $74,000 to some 37 artists and Worcester-based organizations.
In addition to its monthly meetings, held the last Tuesday of each month, the Worcester Arts Council also hosts its own locally originated projects including the restoration of the Greendale Eagle Project and an annual Art in the Park Sculpture Exhibit which the Council has hosted for four consecutive years in Worcester's historic Elm Park.
Congratulations 2012 Grant Recipients!
Worcester Arts Council (WAC) has announced the recipients of funding for the 2012 granting cycle. WAC awarded a total of $77,720 to 43 Worcester area artists, organizations, and educational institutions. The 2012 allocation includes two $4,000 Artist Fellowships, awarded to individual artists to assist in the funding of their artistic endeavors, which were granted to film director/producer, T. Lashay Parham, and photographer, Louie Despres.
The Worcester Arts Council selected a wide variety of grant recipients ranging from arts education through children’s programs, collaborative projects which promote diversity, public art, music/performing arts, and visual arts. WAC’s nine members reviewed applications in the fall during a series of meetings conducted to evaluate the overall quality of the proposed programs, their public benefit, and viability. Read more here.
A complete list of grants funded for the 2012 cycle can be found here. Check back soon for details about our upcoming reception to honor all of our 2012 grant recipients.
The Worcester Arts Council gratefully acknowledges the support of the
